Torquay Rotarians keep centenary baton moving

At front, Margie Isom, Cr Libby Stapleton, Michael Reed, Jan Emmett and Cr Rose Hodge at the start of the baton relay in Torquay. Photos: PETER MARSHALL

THE Rotary Club of Torquay have done their part to pass the torch for the service organisation’s Australian centenary celebrations, officially starting the Geelong leg of Rotary’s Centenary Baton Relay.

Rotarians, Surf Coast Shire councillors and community members gathered at The Esplanade near Front Beach Cafe to begin the relay on Sunday.

The baton had lots of helpers willing to lift it high on the way to the nearby Rob Emmett Playground, including Surf Coast Shire councillor Rose Hodge and mayor Libby Stapleton.

Once there, the club held a small ceremony for Torquay Rotary president Jan Emmett and district governor Phil Beasley to formally receive the baton.

Phil Beasley, Jan Emmett (pillion) and Margie Isom (in sidecar) start the baton’s journey to Barwon Heads.

Mr Beasley, Ms Emmett (as a pillion passenger) and Torquay Rotarian Margie Isom (in the sidecar) then jumped on a Harley-Davidson motorbike with the baton and roared around the coast to Barwon Heads, where the Rotary Club of Ocean Grove accepted it and started the next stage.

The Geelong leg culminated in an event with all the Rotary Clubs from the Geelong district at Christ Church Geelong on Sunday afternoon.

The first four Rotary Clubs in Australia and New Zealand were created in Melbourne, Auckland, Wellington and Sydney, all in 1921. From there, Rotary and Rotaract clubs spread everywhere across the two countries.

For more information on Rotary’s centenary celebrations in Australia, head to rotary100downunder.com.